Petunia plant named ‘USTUN34803’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN34803’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; small red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN34803’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘USTUN34803’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif.The objective of the breeding program is to create new Petunia plantswith compact plant habit, freely branching growth habit, earlyflowering, attractive small flowers and good summer performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 15, 2007 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of Petunia×hybrida‘USTUNI8902’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,895, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybridaidentified as code number 07 red 1, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May21, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 23,2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN34803’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USTUN34803’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Small red purple-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Petunia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘USTUNI8902’, inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact than plants of        ‘USTUNI8902’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        ‘USTUNI8902’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI8902’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘USTUNI8902’ have fuchsia-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUNI6001’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed fromplants of ‘USTUNI6001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI6001’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ had bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Conglow’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,545. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Conglow’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were not as trailing as plants of        ‘Conglow’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Conglow’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Conglow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘USTUN34803’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘USTUN34803’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 5° C. to 8° C. and light levels ranged from7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were tenweeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN34803’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUNI8902’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,895.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 07 red 1, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Annual flowering plant; outwardly            spreading and low mounding plant habit; vigorous growth            habit; freely branching habit with about four to five            primary lateral branches and numerous secondary lateral            branches per plant; pinching enhances development of lateral            branches; dense and bushy habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 52 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent; viscid, glandular. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid,            glandular.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; glandular.            Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers;            flowers face mostly upward or outward; freely flowering            habit, about 46 flower buds and open flowers per lateral            branch.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to five days;            flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Floral, sweet.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3 cm to 3.2 cm. Depth (height):            About 3 cm. Tube length: About 2.2 cm. Throat diameter,            distal end: About 7 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About            2.5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 201C.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a            single whorl, funnelform. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Acute or            slightly mucronate. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat            texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 70A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 201C to 201D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 71B; venation, close to 59A; color does            not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 72C to 72D; venation, close to 191C; color does not            fade with development. Flower throat: Close to 59C;            venation, close to N79A. Flower tube (outside): Close to 59A            to 59B; venation, close to 197B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals            fused at base, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° to 60° from the stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to            157A. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 198C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 198A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.7 cm. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style            color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded anvil-shaped.            Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been            observed.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden and summer performance and have been observed to    tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to    about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN34803’ as illustratedand described.